Above section open to Education majors only
Above section carries culture studies credit
Modern industrial society first appeared on the continent of Europe,
and European ideas, inventions, and conflicts have reshaped the face
of the entire planet. An understanding of the great transformations
affecting Europe since 1815 is essential for understanding the world
today. H104 aims to provide such an understanding. We will explore
the change of European society from a pre-industrial world of
peasants and aristocrats to a world of modern industry and
technology. We will observe the successes of Europeans in economic
growth and national unification. We will also explore their
failures in maintaining peace and social harmony, as manifested in
two world wars and the rise of communism and fascism. Throughout we
will stress the role played by ordinary people in these changes.
Readings and lectures will be supplemented by weekly discussion
sections in which students can respond to the material and seek
clarification of difficult issues. There will also be
a “simulation” in which students will be able to experience the
kinds of choices faced by ordinary Europeans during the nineteenth
century.